FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Aristida stricta | Pineland Threeawn 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Plant adaptations to fire:  Pineland threeawn is a fire-adapted species.
Its meristems are located about 1 to 1.5 inches (3 cm) below the soil
surface, where they are insulated from the heat of fire [23,31].  Fire
in Southeastern savannas and grasslands generally raises soil
temperatures very little because the flaming front passes quickly.
During prescribed fires in wiregrass stands in Florida, soil
temperatures 0.13 inch (0.2 cm) below the soil surface seldom exceeded
120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 deg C) [31].  Thus, meristems are located
deeply enough that fire seldom or never subjects them to lethal
temperatures.  Following fire, the surviving meristems quickly initiate
new top-growth.  New leaf blades commonly emerge within 3 days after
fire [25].

Fire ecology:  In general, pineland threeawn litter builds up quickly,
decomposes slowly, and is highly flammable.  Without fire, aboveground
biomass peaks in just 3 or 4 years, resulting in a dense "wiregrass
rough" [31].  In presettlement times, this was one of the primary fuels
to sustain lightning-caused fires in Coastal Plain savannas.  The
natural fire regime was one of frequent, low-intensity, summer surface
fires.  Christensen [6] estimated that Coastal Plain savannas burned
every 2 to 8 years.  Clewell [8] estimated presettlement fire
frequencies in longleaf pine savannas at 2 to 4 years.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tussock graminoid

Related categories for Species: Aristida stricta | Pineland Threeawn